The person-to-person transmission of H3N8 chicken flu or human avian influenza is “extremely rare,” World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Emergency Director Babatunde Olowokure mentioned Friday amid a recorded dying in China.
“What we need to understand is that with these human cases of avian influenza, transmission from person to person is extremely rare. So therefore, the situation for humans in this regard is that we do remain vigilant,” Olowokure mentioned in a press convention.
“We need to provide information regarding risks and most of that risk relates to sick, dying, or dead poultry and also their attendance at wet markets,” he added.
The WHO official mentioned most human instances outcome from “individual cases having contact with dead or dying poultry [and] it does not come from the poultry industry.”
Olowokure mentioned the WHO is working along with totally different world organizations to make sure correct monitoring and response ought to there be extra instances of human avian influenza.
Earlier this week, the WHO reported {that a} girl died from H3N8 chicken flu in China. It is the primary recognized human fatality from the avian influenza pressure, in accordance with an Agence France-Presse report.
H3N8 is understood to have been circulating since 2002 after first rising in North American waterfowl. It is understood to contaminate horses, canines, and seals.
It had not been detected in people earlier than two prior non-fatal instances emerged — each additionally in China — in April and May final yr. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
